Board discusses upcoming transportation contract, forms review committee; introduces new terminal manager

The school board discussed the transportation contract that expires in June of next year and agreed to create a transportation committee to review options, costs and whether the district should continue its current contractor or change the model.

Chair Russ Dancy said the intent is to reach a decision by August so any new vendor would have time to obtain buses and ready operations. "The reason I put it on, for the discuss it because this contract will behave on the end next year in June. And I would like for us to get to start looking what, put it out for bids or what we're planning on doing because ... I would like for us to try to have a decision at least, you know, at least by August," Dancy said.

Board members volunteered to serve on a review committee. Board member Mister Metoyer agreed to chair the committee and asked for at least three others; volunteers included Russ Dancy and Billy Benefield. The committee will receive the current contract and meet to calculate the true cost of the district's transportation model and to determine whether contracting or renting buses and hiring drivers directly would be more cost-effective.

In an earlier portion of the meeting the board also met the district's new terminal manager. "My name is Loron Baptiste, and I am the new terminal manager for ECCO. I bring to you guys about 35 years of transportation and logistics experience," Baptiste said as he introduced himself and said he was "excited about what we can do for student transportation here in Natchitoches."

The board did not take a formal vote on the contract at this meeting; members asked staff to circulate the existing contract to the committee and to schedule the committee's first meeting.